Normans - edwards death and claimants to the throne Flashcards
who was edward the confessor
king of england 1042-1066
first english king after 25 years of danish rule
had no children
how was edward connected to normandy
his mother was norman, spent most of early life in exile in normandy
edward spoke norman french and his closest advisors were norman
who was Northamptonshire controlled by
tostig
governed by waltheof
which family controlled east anglia, south west midlands and wessex
the godwinsons
why was northumbria important
most northerly and borders scotland who invaded a lot
very viking territory
who was wessex controlled by
harold GODWINSON
why was wessex important
was the only region of england not invaded by vikings
who was northumbria controlled by
morcar brother of edwin
why were the northern people considered different
contained more vikings than english
different customs and language
who were the four claimants to the throne
harold godwinson
harald hardrada
edgar the aethling
william of normandy
what family ties did harold have to edward
brother in law (no blood connection)
what family ties did william have to edward
cousin or edward through edward mother
what family ties did harald have to edward
none
what family ties did edgar have to edward
great nephew
last living anglo saxon prince
what promises did edward make to harold
probably promised him the throne at some point after 1503
what promises did edward make to william
suspected william was promised the throne as he housed edward in normandy 1501
1064 harold suposedly promises william he can have the throne on holy relics
what promises did edward make to harold
none BUT
his father magnus had been promised the throne by harthacnut
what promises did edward make to edgar
1057 edgar and his father were invited back from exile
it’s possible edward wanted anglo saxon prince to succeed him
why was harold’s oath to william invalid
declared invalid by the witan as it was made under threat of death
who has the strongest claim and why
harold godwinson
had support of the witan (and most of the country due to his family)
why did the witan crown harold as king
harold had proved himself to be a strong leader
great military and diplomatic ability
spent many years ruling england on edwards behalf
what did harold do after he became king
married the sister of edwin and morcar to consolidate support from the north
